UK expects India to open up its legal sector

The UK Minister of Courts and Legal Aid Shailesh Vara on Wednesday said he has initiated a debate with his Indian counterpart on the need to open up India's legal system for international law firms.

"I had met Indian Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and chief of Bar Council of India during my visit to Delhi. Today I met Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court and state head of the Bar Council and talked to them about the need to open up the Indian legal system," Vara told a media conference.

Stressing on the need to open up the legal sector of India for international law firms, the first Gujarati-origin UK minister, who is on a three-day visit to the country said "we have just initiated a debate with our Indian counterparts and we would like to discuss the issue, as it would be benefical to India."

He said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to attract foreign business, the foreign companies which would come to India may wish to retain their international law firms here too.

"So, if the legal sector is opened, the companies coming here will also be benefited," he added. "We are not asking the Indian government to allow our lawyers to argue in Indian courts or advice Indian clients about Indian Law, but our lawyers should be allowed to guide on international laws," Vara said.

The UK Minister said after Britain opened its legal system, it attracted best talents of the country.

"India can also emerge as a hub of legal talent if it opens up its legal sector," he said.

Vara also said the UK invites more Indian students to study and there was no cap on upper limit of students who can come to study in that country. At present, there are 35,000 Indian students studying in the UK, he added.